Last night I went out with friends, one of whom was visiting from Virginia. She joked about how every time she comes to Utah she feels the need to get dressed up and do her hair (and get a boob job) just to go out with friends. Apparently there is much more pressure to impress here in Utah. This wasn't news to me. I have often wondered why we as women feel such a need to fit the mold, even at the high cost of our own sanity and happiness. Im sure that if I were to ask any of you reading this what you are supposed look like, what you should wear, weigh, read, say, do, etc. that we could come up with a pretty specific list.
Before I claim any sort of independence from such brain-washing, I need confess that I still have some pretty unrealistic expectations of myself. In fact, just last night my friend and I were trying to figure out why it had been so long since we had hung out. I explained that I had been feeling down and didnt want to contaminate her happiness with my depression like it was some sort of contagious flu! And i didnt want her to see me like that, even though she is the least likely to judge me for it! Why? Not only do we feel the need to get dressed up physically to present an image to others, but we dress up emotionally too? Heaven forbid someone see us without our emotional make-up that we think conceals our vulnerabilities, insecurities, and heartaches!
And so my call to the women of the world (especially Utah) let us forgive ourselves and one another for perpetuating such unrealistic expectations. Let us be and behave how we wish others would. Our greatest strength as women is our ability to love and nurture. Lets take care of each other and ourselves. Remember that all judgement is self-judgement and when we are tempted to be critical of others it is our own reflection we are seeing. We are perfect exactly as we are! Its high time we start believing it!
